During the 2020 lockdown, the place where I worked had a Zoom social with the theme of wearing something from our favourite band/artist. I didn’t have a lot of those. Strike that, I had one I could wear. And so it became a bit of a running joke that I, the youngest in the office, was a mega fan of an artist who is getting on a bit. He started in the 60’s and has hits in every decade since, the only person to have done that. And to be fair, I do enjoy listening to his music and have some of his CD’s. But when I was at Uni studying music, I was advised not to shout too loudly that I liked this guy. So obviously I’m not going to reference him in a public blog, right?
Except, there is a song that he performs which is perfect for pointing to God. So, here we are. I am unashamedly a fan of Cliff Richard (although not his biggest fan…) I grew up listening to his music and can sing along to a good number of them.
The one I want to focus on, and the reason I am publicly declaring my fondness for Cliff, is called ‘Reunion of the Heart’
It tells a story, and could almost be the Israelites story. “You picked me up when I was living down Iin Egypt” – sounds like what God did back in Exodus. The song is about being shown how important you are, but still you wander away. And even though you wonder away, you are called back by someone calling your name. You are hesitant to return, you mucked it up last time and you don’t want to make the same mistake again, but the voice doesn’t stop calling…
OK, now I’ve butchered the lyrics! But that gives a sense of what the song is about. And how true is that of us and God? If Egypt is metaphorical for us, a place where we are trapped or at the mercy of another, God meets us and offered freedom. How often do people get that offer and walk away? Look at the parable of the prodigal son. He has love and security, but he walks away thinking there was something better, more exciting. But he realises his mistake and turns back to his father, not as a son because he knows he doesn’t deserve that and he messed up, but he comes back looking to work as a servant in the household. The father has other ideas.
In this song, the voice calls out a personal invite to return. You think the owner of that voice doesn’t know what a mess we’ve made? But the voice calls anyway. God calls anyway. He can handle the mess and the mistakes, he just wants us to hear that invite and come back – not as unworthy servants, but as family, fresh with a new start. Sometimes traditional hymns are a bit old and dirge-like, and sometimes contemporary worship songs just don’t hit the mark. But there is a whole world of music out there, and God doesn’t see it as ‘church music” and “secular music”, he just hears “music”. So I don’t mind saying that this particular song really points me to God. (And if you like this one check out “You’ll be in my heart” by Phil Collins…)
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